Warn the Unruly

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

“Warn” means to “inform someone in advance of an impending or possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation.”

Unruly means “not submissive or conforming to rule; lawless; lacking restraint.”

There are many warnings around us in the world. On plastic buckets they have warnings on them that tell you to keep buckets with even a small amount of water in them away from small children because there is the danger that they could fall into them and get stuck and drown.

Also, on things like aspirin or chemicals, it warns that they should be kept out of the reach of children, so that they don’t hurt themselves.

A parent warns their young child to behave if they are being stubborn or not listening. They warn them of some kind of punishment that will happen if they continue to disbehave. A child may want to to something, or go somewhere that they shouldn’t go or do, so a parents warns them that they will receive a punishment if they do it. 

When I was a young child, I had a battery-powered car. I rode in that car everyday that I could. I was allowed to ride it as long as I obeyed a simple rule-that I could only ride it around a certain area, which was the half-block around our house. I don’t know how many times I rode around that half-block but as far as I can remember I never went outside that boundary, because I knew that if I did that I would lose the privilege to my car. I listened to the warning and I obeyed it.

In 1 Corinthians 4, it sounds like there were some people who weren’t taking Paul’s writings seriously, but were puffed up, or trying to exalt themselves over what Paul was teaching.

“Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

But I will come shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”  Corinthians 4:18-21

Paul was warning them that if this was going to continue, then he would come there and straighten things out. Like a dad who needs to correct a disobedient child, he didn’t want to have to come there and be hard on them in order to get them to change, but he would if it was necessary. He wanted to come to them lovingly, and meekly, but he would be strong with them if they wouldn’t change.

In Exodus, Pharaoh wasn’t submiiting to God when Moses told him to let the people go. He was warned over and over again about the plagues that would come upon Egypt if he didn’t listen. Eventually it cost him his son and his entire army. But he was warned.

In the church, when someone is unruly, or not submitting to the Word of God, they need to be warned that what they are doing is wrong. They need to be exhorted or urged to change their ways, because disobedience is not rewarded by God. Sin is a serious thing. This is not like when children in school would throw spitballs and get a rap on the wrist with a ruler. The punishment for someone who doesn’t change from their sins is eternal death. That is why it is so important to warn the unruly and disobedient. 

In 1 Corinthians 5, there was an issue with fornication in the church, and instead of being sad or remorseful about their sin, they were puffed up. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and warned them. 

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from you. 

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 

In the name our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destuction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Later in 2 Corinthians, it looks like this person felt sorrow for what had happened and Paul wanted the church to receive him back. Paul’s warning had a positive effect in the church. Unless Paul had come in and warned them, it may have continued to go on. 

God leaves a warning in His Word what will happen if people do not listen to His warning about living in sin. 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Eternal life is a privilege and a gift from God. It cannot be earned, but is offered freely. All people need to do is heed God’s warning to depart from sin.

The church is a place to learn about and worship Jesus. In the church, people may make mistakes and sin, but it should not become a habit to continue to live in sin. Those in the church who continue in sin need to be warned so that they change their way.

In Christ, 

Andrew